Connector for bracelet or the like



Dec. 14, 1954 K. SPECK ETAL 2,696,689

CONNECTOR FOR BRACELET OR THE LIKE Filed July 1. 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l K W??? Yffargallon TTORNEY Dec. 14, 1954 K. SPECK ET AL CONNECTOR FOR BRACELET OR THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 1. 1950 irw 53251: BY 23 INVEN TTORNEY United rates coNNEcron non BRACELET on THE LIKE Application .iuly 1, B50, Serial No, 171,678

8 tilaims. {(Il. 40-140) This invention relates to ornamental jewelry products; still more particularly to personalized identification jewelry parts, and still more particularly to jewelry parts comprising connectors for bracelets for removably assembling therewith initials, monograms, emblems, insignia or the like. I

This invention more particularly relates to Watch ban or like jewelry parts in which a frame member forming a part of such jewelry carries initials, monograms, emblems or like personalized components which may be assembled with the frame to harmonize with the article of jewelry, and it is an object of this invention to provide a frame forming a component part of the article of jewelry, such as the connector of a watch band, in which one or more letters, monograms, initials or emblems may be removably embodie V More particularly it is an object of this invention to provide a frame forming a part of anorriarnental article of jewelry for removabiy assembling elements'thereof, such as nionograms, initials or emblems, in which the frame and removable elements have an ornamental fit and are assembled in the frame with close tolerances, to assure a pleasing appearance, and long life of the precious metal used in the parts, including plating or other coating of precious metal, notto detract from the appearance of the assembly. I

Still more particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide in an article of jewelry, a frame element for removably carrying m'ono'grams, initials, emblems, and made from relatively thin-gauge sheeted metal employed in such articles which, while conforming readily to quantity production manufacturing processes, has the requisite rigidity for long life, close tolerances 'Which would prevent unsightly assembly and deterioration due to wear of the precious or semi-precious finishes.

Still more particularly it is an object of the present invention to provide an ornamental. article of jewelry having a frame assembly for removably coupling initials, monograrns, emblems, in order to secure 2. personalized item of jewelry and in which the custom assembly of the removable components may be effected fa'cilely, and. held in position securely,without marring the ornamental finishes, such as the gold surface, in attaching the removable initials, mono-grams or emblems, and/to hold the removable elements in position Without lo'oseness or yield ing movement which would detract from its appearance.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, I make reference to the accompanying drawings, forming apart hereof, in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective view of a Watch band connector end, showing the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged rear plan view of the same; Figure 3 is an enlarged section taken on the line 33 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is an enlarged section taken on the line 4' 4 Figure 7 is a perspective view of a monogram or initial em loyed. 7

Figure 8 is an enlarged side elevation thereof; and Figure 9 is an exploded perspective 'view'of'the conne'ctor assembly.

of the spring wire locki '7 member 64-. V l 65. have a transverse cam .-er arched inwardly from the to be thereby resiliently held thereon and lie angul with respect to the flanges 55 and 56, to leave aslit 67 2,596,689 fPatented Dec. 14-, 1954 lustrated in the form of a frame assembly 10 at the terminal end of an expansible watch band 11, having a connector tube 12 for coupling to a wrist watch 13 on the spring lug usually disposed between the connector ears 14 of the wrist Watch. The frame assembly is composed of a front frame member 15 Whose upper edge 16 is shaped to merge into the connector tube 12 previously described, there being provided faceting sides'conforming to the ornamental motif embodied in the tube and the watch band links. The edge 16 is offset toward the axial line of the connector tube 12 cooperates with a similarly shaped bottom edge 17 and the end flange 18, as well as downwardly directed side flanges l9 and 21?, to provide adequate encasing depth from the edges 21, for purposes which willbe described herebelow.

The front framemember 15 has a central cutout 22 defined by the ed es23 and'fifia. A tongue 24 extends from the end flange l3 and tongues 25, 2t? extend from the side flanges i9, and 29, respectively, to receive the back plate 27,, Whose upper edge 28 extends in close adjacency to the connector tube 12. Side edges 29 and 30 and bottom edge 31 are substantially congruent to the flanges 18, 19 and 2! there being cutouts 32, 33 and 34 to receive the tongues 24, 25 and 26 in spanning and edge abutting relation, and to provide for'bending the tongues and to leave the flanges flush with the edges 29, 3d and 31. An extended ear 35 and pivot slot 36 serve as the connectormeans for the adjacent link 37 of the expansion bracelet, the clearance space between the back plate and the front plate serving to house the headed slidable stud coupled to the underlying link memher, in amanner which, will be readily understood.

The. back plate is formed with a cutout 3 3 defined by the spacer flange 39, whose edge 4i abuts the rear face 41 of the front plate and whose side 42 is spaced inwardly fromthe edge 23, to leave an overhang 43.

. The cutout 33 has a stepped apertured portion 44 defined by the inwardly directed flanges 45 and 46, the edges or" which 47 and 48 are spaced from the front plate to provide guide slots 49 and 50. The edges of the back plate adjacent the upper and lower portions of the stepped aperture 44 and in leading position to the rid 46 are formed with curled lip portions El and 52, forming seats 53 and 54 for purposes which Will appear herebelow. i r

The enlarged portion of the cutout 38 is defined by upper and lower spacer flanges 55 and-5d, with the edges 57 andSf: abutting the rear face of the front plate.

The back plate adjacent the side edge 26a is formed with an inwardly directed spacer lug 59 whose edce 6E9 abuts the rear face of the front frame member and rorms an overhang 63 adjacent the cutout. 'lo each side of the spacer lug 59 there are formed inwardly curled pivot sleeves 62. 62 forming the hinge for the base branehtfi Side branches terminal edges otiflto be tensioned in the space between th front frame andback plate. The. lockinc member 64 is formed normally to diverge the branches S5 for a greater Width than the distance between the flanges SS and 56.. By this arrangement, the locking member 64 may be pivoted transversely of the cutoutv 3' 3. Upon pinching the branches 65 toward eachother, the branches may ride beneath the curled section 51 and 53, to snap upon released expansion, into the seats 53 54,10 holdthe branches ag inst accidental displacern a d v serving as a means of prying a sharp instrument thereirito. With a construction as described, there maybe provided monograrns, initials, letters or emblems 6S and 69. H In Figures? and 8 there is shown a monogram 6% which is illustrative of the various initials or letterelements which maybe combined with the frame assembly previously described. Each element bowed central section terminating in tabs 73, 71 to each -side'of the overhang 7 4 projecting beyond the edges '73? Qimnsibnally,-the'outeredzes'75 of the 'tabs 'ilcorrespond substantially to the distance between the flanges 55 and d5.

The shoulders 72, 72 are spaced from each other for the distance corresponding to the edges 23a-23a of the cutout of the front plate from top to bottom.

With elements of the character described provided,

should it be desired to embody the letters W G within in a horizontal position with the back facing upwardly,

and then the initial G is dropped into the larger cutout 38 until the tabs 71 contact the rear face of the frame 15, with the shoulders 72 in contact with the edges 23;! and the bowed portion protruding through the frame cutout. In this position some sharp instrument, such as a pin or needle, is employed to slide the letter toward the left side of the frame, when viewed as in Figure 9, until the tabs ride beneath the flanges 45 and 46 in the slots 49 and 50. The corners of the flanges 45 and 46, at their leading edges shown at 46a, are rounded to furnish a funnel entrance to have a camming action, to provide a frictional contact of the edges 47 and 43 against the tabs 71. Sliding movement is effected until a side edge of the letter abuts the edge 23 of the front frame member (see Figure 3), the extensions 74 coming below the overhang 43 to give a close contact with the edge 23. In this position the element 63, shown here as the letter W is then dropped into position in the cutout 38, to abut the shoulder 72 in contact with the edges 230, as previously described. Thereupon the branches 65, 65 of the locking member are pressed down by pivotal movement to ride over the curled edges 51 and 52, being cammed into compressed position first until the branches pass below the plane of the edges 51 and 52, whereupon they will snap, to spread outwardly to become seated in the seats 53 and 54.

The camber of the branches 65 adjacent the midpoint will press upon the tabs 71 which, for the letter W, are spaced from each other to uniformly press the initial into engagement'with the front frame plate. The overhang 74 spaces the initials 68 and 69 from each'other, as more clearly shown in Figure 3, while lying beneath the overhang 61 at the opposite side. Rigid placement of the letters is thereby secured under the resilient pressure of the tongues 45 and 46 and the branches 65, 65 for the initials 68 and 69.

For removal of the initials, one pries a sharp instrument into the clearance slot 67 to uncouple the branches 65 from the seat 53 and 54, whereupon the locking branches snap out of position to uncover the cut and permit removal or replacement of the initials,

It will be understood that while it is preferred to provide a frame for a plurality of initials, which may be sequentially inserted as described, the provision of a frame having a single initial or emblem is contemplated,

to obtain some of the desirable features of the invention,

as by making the rear plate with the enlarged aperture and closing means comprising the generally U-shaped spring latch, to procure in part the desirable features of this invention.

By the construction illustrated, a frame for removably assembling initials, monograms or the like is obtained, in which the initials are brought into very close contact on all sides. The predeterimned design of the front plate is thereby maintained and the necessity for large toler ances for positioning, which may detract from the appearance of the face, is thereby eliminated, providing a flush surface of the frame and initials, resembling a pierced condition of the face of the frame.

By directing flanges forming the side walls of the frame aperture from a portion of the back plate and directing the same toward the front face, clarity and sharpness of the letters inserted in the frame are assured. At the same time, such construction serves to reinforce the plates with regard to each other, to permit of manufacturing operations by stamping and finishing which may be economically carried out without sacrificing rigidity, and furthermore, procuring a uniformity of spacing between the front plate and the rear plate so that standard dimensions of initials may be used, and procure a flush arrangement of the initials when in position.

It will be observed that while the latch assembly in the form of the bowed or cambered spring is pivoted at one end, the initials are pressed down axially without canting or tilting, and that there is no evident looseness within the frame since the camber of the spring serves to press the letters down centrally, to hold them flat and in an upright position.

While the invention has been described as embodied in connection with a watch band and has been illustrated as a linking member adjacent the connector tube, it will be understood that the frame assembly may form the ornamental portion of other articles of jewelry, such as buckles, cuff links, tie bars, to secure, in a measure, the desirable features outlined herein, conforming the frame structure at its sides or edges to such location as may be required.

Having thus described our invention and illustrated its use, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An article of jewelry of the character described comprising a sheet metal stamping frame assembly for detachably securing interchangeable elements comprising an initial, monogram, emblem or the like, which elements have supporting tabs edgewisely extended therefrom, a face flange defining a main cutout within which said elements may be displayed in edgewise abutting relation to said face flange, and with the tabs thereof overlying the inner side of the face flange, a rear flange having edges spaced from said face flange outlining between said flanges retaining edges and a guide slot for the tabs of said elements, said rear flange having edges thereof in offset position terminating short of the retaining edges to provide an enlarged cutout for bodily receiving an element and to permit clearance of the tab for sliding said element into said guide slot, and releasable locking means mounted between said flanges and having latching portions extending into said guide slot for engaging the tabs of said element and holding the element against the face flange.

2. An article of jewelry of the character described comprising a sheet metal stamping frame assembly for detachably securing interchangeable elements comprising an initial, monogram, emblem or the like, which elements have supporting tabs edgewisely extended therefrom, a face flange defining a main cutout within which said elements may be displayed in edgewise abutting relation to said face flange, and with the tabs thereof overlying the inner side of the face flange, a rear flange having edges spaced from said face flange outlining between said flanges retaining edges and a guide slot for the tabs of said ele ments, said rear flange having edges thereof in offset position terminating short of the retaining edges to provide an enlarged cutout for bodily receiving an element and to permit clearance of the tab for sliding said element into said guide slot, and releasable locking means pivotally mounted on pivot sleeves between said flanges having portions thereof extending into said guide slot for engaging the tab of said element and holding the element against the face flange.

3. An article of jewelry of the character described comprising a sheet metal stamping frame assembly for detachably securing interchangeable elements comprising an initial, monogram, emblem or the like, which elements have supporting tabs edgewisely extended therefrom, a face flange defining a main cutout within which said elements may be displayed in edgewise abutting relation to said face flange, and with the tabs thereof overlying the inner side of the face flange, a rear flange having edges spaced from said face flange outlining between said flanges retaining edges and a guide slot for the tabs of said elements, said rear flange having edges thereof in offset position terminating short of the retaining edges to provide an enlarged cutout for bodily receiving an element and to permit clearance of the tab for sliding said element into said guide slot, said rear flange having a pivot sleeve forming a hinge extending into said guide slot, releasable locking means comprising a spring locking member pivotally mounted on said pivot sleeve and having portions engaging said rear flange to engage the tab of said element and hold the element against the face flange. I

4. An article of jewelry of the character described comprising a sheet metal stamping frame assembly for detachably securing interchangeable elements comprising an initial, monogram, emblem or the like, which elements have supporting tabs edgewisely extended therefrom, a face flange defining a main cutout within which said elements may be displayed in edgewise abutting relation to said face flange, and with the'tabs thereof overlying the inner side of the face flange, a rear flange having edges spaced from said face flange outlining between said flanges retaining edges and a guide slot for the tabs of said elements, said rear flange having edges thereof in ofiset position terminating short of the retaining edges to provide an enlarged cutout for bodily receiving an element and to permit clearance of the tab for sliding said element into said guide slot, said rear flange having pivot sleeves mounted thereon forming a hinge positioned between said flanges and a U-shaped spring wire locking member pivoted on said sleeves, the side branches whereof being biased to engage the rear flange and hold the tabs of said element against the face flange.

5. An article of jewelry of the character described comprising a sheet metal stamping frame assembly for detachably securing interchangeable elements comprising an initial, monogram, emblem or the like, which elements have supporting tabs edgewisely extending therefrom, a front member comprising a face flange defining a cutout within which said elements may be displayed in edgewise abutting relation to said face flange and with the tabs thereof overlying the inner side of the face flange, a rear plate member peripherally connected with said front frame member comprising a rear flange having retaining edges spaced from said face flange and defining a guide slot for the tabs of said element, said rear flange having edges thereof in otfset position terminating short of the retaining edges to form an enlarged cutout for bodily receiving the interchangeable element and to permit clearance of the tabs for sliding an element into said guide slot, said rear plate member having spacer flanges extending in abutting relation to the front member edgewise to guide an element in said slot, an inwardly curved pivot sleeve forming a hinge positioned between said flanges, releasable locking means hingedly mounted on said pivot sleeve having a latching portion extending between said flanges for engaging the tab of an element and holding the element against the face flange, and a curled lip forming a seat on said rear flange for said latching portion to hold s'aid latching portion against accidental displacement.

6. An article of jewelry of the character described comprising a sheet metal stamping frame assembly for detachably securing interchangeable elements comprising an initial, monogram, emblem or the like, which elements each have supporting tabls edgewisely extended therefrom, a front member of sheeted material comprising a face flange defining a cutout within which said elements may be displayed in edgewise abutting relation to said face flange, and with the tabs thereof overlying the inner side of the face flange, a rear plate member comprising a rear flange having retaining edges spaced from said face flange defining a guide slot for the tabs of said elements, said rear flange having edges thereof in offset position terminating short of the retaining edges outlining an enlarged cutout for bodily receiving an element and to permit clearance of the tabs thereof for sliding an element into said guide slot, said front memher having end and side flanges including peripheral coupling means for joining said front member and rear plate member, the rear plate member having outwardly directed flanges, the edges of which are spaced from the front plate to provide guide slots, curved lip portions each providing a seat adjacent said guide slots, a pivot sleeve on said rear plate mounted between said flanges,

a locking element pivotally mounted on said sleeve comprising a U-shaped spring wire locking member having side branches including a transverse camber arched inwardly and biased normally to diverge for engaging said isieats and to hold the tabs of an element against the face ange.

7. In an article of jewelry of the character described comprising a sheet metal stamping frame assembly for detachably securing an interchangeable element comprising an initial, monogram, or the like having supporting edgewisely extended tabs, said assembly comprising a front member having an inwardly extending face flange defining a main cutout within which an element may be displayed substantially in abutting relation to said face flange and with the tabs thereof overlying the inner side of the said face flange, a superimposed rear plate member, side flanges extending from said front member engaging said rear plate member and supporting said members in spaced relation to each other, said rear plate member having a rear flange defined by offset edges outlining a cutout whose edges terminate short of the overlying face flange and providing between said face and back flanges an element retaining guide slot for receiving the tabs of an element and means for holding the tabs of said elements in said guide slots comprising a locking device, mounting means for said locking device extended between said flanges, said locking device having latching means engaging said back flange and pressing the tabs of said elements against said face flange.

8. In an article of jewelry of the character described comprising a sheet metal stamping frame assembly for detachably securing interchangeable elements comprising an initial, monograms or the like each having edgewisely extended supporting tabs, said assembly comprising a front member having an inwardly extending face flange defining a main cutout within which said elements may be displayed in abutting relation to said face flange and with the tabs thereof overlying the said back of the face flange, an underlying rear plate member, side flanges extending from said front member engaging said rear plate member and supporting said members in spaced relation to each other, said rear plate member having a back flange defined by offset edges outlining a cutout whose edges terminate short of the overlying face flange and forming between said face and back flanges a guide slot and retainer space, said cutout of said back flange extending lengthwise of the end thereof by an amount of the width of one of said elements and tabs whereby said elements may be slid through said cutout into said guide slot and means for holding said tab against said face flange comprising a locking device, mounting means for said locking device extended between said flanges, said locking device having latching means engaging said back flange and pressing the tabs of said elements against said face flange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 932,867 James Aug. 31, 1909 1,448,524 Copeland Mar. 13, 1923 1,463,739 Draper July 31, 1923 1,717,374 Dufau June 18, 1929 1,722,245 Gautheron July 23, 1929 

